Kia Telluride years to avoid (and the best years)
1,996 NHTSA owner complaints and 19 recalls across 7 model years, 2020 to 2027. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
Compared with: Hyundai Palisade
- 1,996complaints
- 19recalls
- 40reported crashes
- 23reported fires
- 42reported injuries
- 1reported deaths
Which Kia Telluride years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Kia Telluride year to avoid is 2020. The typical Kia Telluride year has 215 complaints on file.
- 2020: 758 complaints, 3.5 times the typical year. Most complaints name the exterior lighting (24% of complaints) and the wipers and visibility (20% of complaints).
What are the best Kia Telluride years?
The Kia Telluride years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2023 (206) and 2022 (322). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 21 | 0.1× | 2 | 1 | 1 | Few red flags | Seat belts |
| 2025 | 112 | 0.5× | 3 | 3 | 5 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2024 | 215 | 1.0× | 5 | 6 | 4 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 206 | 1.0× | 6 | 5 | 3 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 322 | 1.5× | 7 | 10 | 9 | Few red flags | Wipers and visibility |
| 2021 | 362 | 1.7× | 5 | 7 | 9 | Some concerns to check | Wipers and visibility |
| 2020 | 758 | 3.5× | 7 | 8 | 11 | Approach with caution | Exterior lighting |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 1,996 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Structure & body764 (38%)
- Electrical & infotainment457 (23%)
- Engine & powertrain429 (21%)
- Other systems141 (7%)
- Steering, suspension & tires82 (4%)
Recalls (19)
Safety · 26V430000 · Jul 2026 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Seat belts · 26V356000 · Jun 2026 · model year 2027
A seat belt strap that does not extend can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Seat belts · 26V135000 · Mar 2026 · model year 2027
A seat belt buckle that is not latched properly can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 26V105000 · Feb 2026 · model year 2025
A seat back frame that fails to properly restrain an occupant during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Tires · 25V745000 · Oct 2025 · model year 2025
Anti-lock braking or traction control systems that do not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
Structure · 25V494000 · Jul 2025 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V407000 · Jun 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Transmission · 24V214000 · Mar 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Exterior lighting · 24V148000 · Feb 2024 · model year 2020
Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Engine · 24V077000 · Feb 2024 · model year 2024
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. A hole in the engine block increases the risk of a fire.
Electrical system · 23V298000 · Apr 2023 · model year 2023
A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 23V035000 · Jan 2023 · model year 2023
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Safety · 22V626000 · Aug 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Tires · 22V509000 · Jul 2022 · model year 2022
Impaired anti-lock braking or traction control systems can increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V344000 · May 2022 · model year 2022
A blank instrument cluster display screen will not show critical information, such as the odometer, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 21V577000 · Jul 2021 · model year 2022
A blank LCD display may be missing information, such as the digital speedometer, gear selection indicator, and odometer, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 21V164000 · Mar 2021 · model year 2021
In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Electrical system · 20V436000 · Jul 2020 · model year 2020
Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 19V594000 · Aug 2019 · model year 2020
If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.